<img width="171" height="229" align="left" alt="Shawne Merriman" title="Shawne Merriman" src="http://www.nbcsports.com/2006/1030/269707_225X300.jpg" />SAN DIEGO - Shawne Merriman characterized himself as a "victim of the policy" on Wednesday during his final appearance at Chargers Park before serving his four-week steroid suspension.

But he also acknowledged he ultimately had to accept responsibility for violating that policy.

A day after the Chargers star linebacker decided to drop his appeal for his positive steroid test, he made a brief visit to team headquarters in the morning to address his teammates.

"It's something that I had to do and I think it was appropriate to do," Merriman said of dropping the appeal. "I made a mistake, not purposely, that really violated the policy. But I didn't do anything on purpose."